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ABOUT THE CENTER

Green
Lake Small Craft Center is located at the southwest "corner"
of Green Lake in North Seattle
--a popular lake totally surrounded by park land. While rowing, canoeing,
kayaking, and sailing classes are taught only during daylight hours the
popular running/ skating/ bicycling/ walking path which surrounds the
lake itself is enjoyed 24 hours per day by the citizens of Seattle.

PERMISSION SLIPS AND HANDOUTS

BOAT RENTALS

Green Lake Small Craft Center does not rent boats. However,
Green Lake Boat Rental, a private company on the other side of Green
Lake, offers a variety of boats to rent to the general public including
canoe, paddle boats and row boats.
They can be contacted at: (206) 527-0171

DIRECTIONS

HISTORY

The youth rowing program was organized by a group of community leaders
and neighborhood supporters in 1947, with the first crew beginning rowing
in the summer of 1948. The original Conroy boathouse was located along
the Eastern shoreline of Green Lake near Evans Pool. This remained the
site of the Green Lake Crew program until the "new" Massart
Shellhouse was built by the Aqua Theater contractor without cost to
the City when that structure was being constructed in 1950. Guided by
the Seattle Junior Crew Rowing Commission, the crew received equipment,
and travel and operational support. By the mid-1950s, Seattle Parks
and Recreation involvement had increased and the program was able to
grow and develop continuity between seasons. In the Seattle earthquake
of 1965, the shellhouse received extensive damage. Rather than just
conduct repairs, the Department expanded the boathouse to accommodate
additional shell storage and improve the launching areas.

Canoeing and sailing came to the lake in the late 1960s with the introduction
of two public clubs, the Seattle Canoe Club and the Seattle Sailing
Association. Both of these groups allowed for the expansion of small
craft program opportunities without impacting the Department budget
. . . a strong group of volunteers worked closely with Department staff,
forming a successful partnership for nearly 20 years.

The 1968 Forward Thrust Bond Issue allowed for the construction of
a new small craft center to accommodate rowing, sailing, and canoeing
on Green Lake. This facility was completed in 1980 and included the
remodeling of the Massart Shellhouse, the partial demolition of the
Aqua Theater, and the addition of a building to house sailing and canoeing.
The Green Lake Small Craft Center was dedicated on September 27, 1980.

Adult rowing was first offered to the public in the fall of 1984 and
has since grown to be a large and stable portion of the program.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Two separate advisory councils support the programs at the Green Lake
Small Craft Center: the largest is the Rowing Advisory Council, responsible
for the rowing and sailing portion of the program; and a public club
sponsored by the Department which is the Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club.

The Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club is a public canoe and kayak club offering
paddling opportunities for the general public on Green Lake. This volunteer
club, working with the Department, offers classes and special events.

Every Seattle Parks and Recreation participant must successfully pass
a float test prior to the first water session of a small craft class.
The float test is valid for three years. Float tests may be taken
at any swimming pool
(or beach) while
under the supervision of a lifeguard certified by the American Red Cross.

Identification is required. You must float, tread water, or swim in
place for ten minutes, in deep water while wearing long pants and a
long sleeved shirt. In the final minute of the test you must put on
a life vest while continuing to tread water.